If everyone does, indeed, have a cross to bear, copies of old newsletters bearing his name may turn out to be Ron Paul's political cross. The New Republic (TNR) web site offers "Selections From Ron Paul's Newsletters", which provide a hell of a different view of the folksy Dr. Paul than he offers up in media interviews--racist, anti-gay, and the usual far right lunacy. It also offers up an article by James Kirchick on the background, how he found the newsletters, etc.

Adele Fergusen, meet Michael Patrick Carroll. The former found the pony in slavery ("The pony hidden in slavery is the fact that it was the ticket to America for black people"), the latter, a Republican Assemblyman in New Jersey, simply thinks that "if slavery was the price that a modern American's ancestors had to pay in order to make one an American, one should get down on one's knees every single day and thank the Lord that such price was paid."

As the realtors say, location! Location! Location!

You've probably heard about the poll in 2007 that showed American voters would be less put off by a Muslim candidate than by a candidate who didn't believe in God at all. But did you hear that worldwide, there are a whole lot more nonbelievers than most people think, know, or imagine?

Verbatim excerpts from minutes of the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee held on December 11, 2007:

Wellsiree Bob, the Iowans (why does that sound like an alien race on a planet orbiting Tau Ceti?) cast their votes, and we now have the beginnings of a real mess.

Some of the news is quite surprising. Some ain't the least bit surprising in the least.....

Yeppers. Seems the editorial board at the Des Moines Register want to sweep into effect a Rethug win come November.

I pray the Iowa voters are much smarter, and play long ball.

I don't think any comment or elaboration from me would add anything at all to this. I ran a Google search in the news for "U.S. economy" tonight at about 10 p.m. Ignoring one duplicate subject matter story and one story about how the U.S. dollar was faring in the wake of the Bhutto incident in Pakistan, here's the 10 results, in order:

This time of year is about celebrating, right? Couldn't think of a better thing to throw a party over: Florida congressman Robert Wexler is proposing we impeach old Chainsaw McGraw! Wow!....

Happy Winter Solstice, y'all. And now, to make sure your holiday is so rich with DOOM-grade terror, let's again remember that 2008 may look like far worse than 1929 ever did.

2007 was, for me, for many, a year that needs to go away and at warp speed. For others, it will be a nightmare remembered: A 17-year girl has died, and according to some, at the hands of a health-care insurer playing Ebenezer Scrooge to the last, fatal chapter of this tale.

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